Here's to the Horse: Celebrating Chinese New Year

Today marks the start of 15 days worth of celebrations in honour of Chinese New Year. With more than 100,000 native English teachers currently working in China, it is the most popular destination for UK-TEFL graduates. As there are so many of you already over there, and even more no doubt headed in the same direction, we thought we would take this opportunity to learn a little bit about a very important part of Chinese culture.

2014: The year of the horse

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, starts with the first new moon of the calendar year. Before festivities can begin people must spring clean their houses to sweep away any bad luck. They also decorate their homes with good luck phrases.

On New Year's Eve, families get together and have a traditional Chinese meal. This differs depending on the region you come from. In the South people eat nian gao, a sweet rice pudding, while in the North they tuck into jiaozi, a kind of steamed dumpling. People wear red and set off fireworks as a way of warding off evil spirits. They stay up until midnight to bring in the New Year.

On New Year's Day itself, children awake to find red envelopes filled with sweets and money that have been left by their parents and grandparents.

Jiaozi: Eaten at New Year in Northern China

The celebrations eventually come to a close with a lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. These lanterns are hand painted with scenes of Chinese legends and then hung from the windows of houses or carried under the light of the full moon. A dragon, made of paper, silk or bamboo is held aloft by young men who dance around trying to collect money.

Chinese New Year coming to a close

This year is the year of the horse. People born in the year of the horse are said to have horse-like personalities. They are animated, active, energetic, quick to learn independence and they have a straightforward and positive attitude towards life. They are also said to enjoy being in crowds and are noted for their wit and strong communication skills.

If you were born in the year of the horse then you're in good company. Other horses include model Cindy Crawford, astronaut Neil Armstrong and Mongol ruler Genghis Khan!

Cindy Crawford: A famous horse

Take a course with UK-TEFL and you could find work in China a matter of weeks. We have plenty of Chinese placements available, all of which can be viewed on our Finding Work pages.

Jake's Journey: From Royal Engineer to TEFL Teacher

After Jake Canning left the army he went from job to job looking for something that he would really enjoy. Then he took a UK-TEFL course and within a few weeks he found himself living and working in China. We caught up with Jake for a quick Q&A to find out how he is getting on.

1. Jake, tell us a bit about your background. What jobs did you do before you decided to become a TEFL teacher?

Before teaching TEFL I was employed in the British Army as a plant operator maintainer within The Royal Engineers, I was in the Army for 4 years and 10 months. In this time I worked in Belize, Kenya, Canada and Jordan, mainly on construction tasks. I left the Army in October 2012 to pursue a new career within regular life. Between October 2012 and November 2013 I have worked as a Heavy goods driver, worked for a property developer, office fitting company, sales consultant at a gym and a sales consultant at a mobile phone shop. I quickly went from job to job trying to find something that gave me the same happiness that the Army did.

2. What attracted you to TEFL teaching?

I did the TEFL course because you never know what’s around the corner and I wanted some extra qualifications on my CV. If I didn’t like the job I was in I could just take off.

3. How did you fund your training?

The Army funded my training. When you spend a certain amount of time in the Army you are eligible for a resettlement fund.

4. Which course did you do and where?

I did the 3 day course and it was in Manchester

5. How much did you enjoy the course and what was your favourite part?

I really enjoyed the course as I really opened my eyes to new areas of employment and how easy it was to find work. My favourite part about the course was all the people I met. I still keep in touch with my trainer Liz every now and then, to let her know how things are.

6. How did you go about finding your current job?

I found the job on the internet. I applied for 10 in China at about 10pm GMT. I left my phone on loud that night and was woken 5 times at early hours in the morning with responses to set up an interview.

7. How did the recruitment process work and how long did  it take before you started work?

I applied for my job on the 10th November had an interview the next day had another interview the day after that and got offered the job. I then went on to sell my car and flew out to China on the 21st November and started my first day at work on the 26th.

8. Where do you work and who do you teach? Can you describe a typical workday?

I work in Beijing, China. I teach children ranging from 2-12, although the centre I am at I think the oldest child is 9. I work for a company called First Leap. They have centers all over China and they are rapidly expanding, since leaving the Army I feel true happiness in my work. A typical working day consists of me starting work at 3.30pm. I could have between 2-4 classes on a week day. Today for example I have 2 classes, the first one is logical and critical thinking (Maths) then I have Art. If you are planning on coming to China I would advise brushing up on your Maths skills, as some of the kids I teach are as quick as calculators. I will finish work today at 8.30pm. In total I’m physically teaching the students 1 hour 25 minutes in total, the rest of the time I am in the office with the Chinese teachers and 4 other foreign teachers preparing for future lessons. Most of the lessons at First Leap we finish off with a craft of some sort that is relevant to the lesson. Sometimes I find myself smiling to myself, thinking “ I wonder how many jobs in the UK you can get paid to paint a butterfly or make a jellyfish out of paper plates and tissue paper”!

9. How are you settling in and finding life outside of the classroom?

I’m settling really well outside the classroom. I am used to spending months away from home. Some days it’s not easy when you have to get simple things done and nobody speaks English. The best thing about living in China is the different nationalities that you meet and the food. The food is cheap and tastes like something you may find in a top restaurant back home, but the Chinese sell it at a tenth of the price.

10.   What would you say to anybody considering a career in TEFL?

I would say to anyone thinking of taking a career in TEFL is really do your research on the area and company you work for. Although I am in a good company that treat me well I have met a lot of people along my travels that aren’t. You need to look into how much things cost in the area rent, electric, travel etc. Also find out before hand from the company you work for when your first pay day will be as you may need to bring more money with you. I never asked this question so I found out the hard way. All in all if you are considering taking the step you should go for it or it could be something you regret later in life. It is definitely worth having the TEFL certification on your CV as you never know what’s around the corner.

If you have any questions about living or working in Beijing, then you can email Jake on jake-canning@hotmail.co.uk 

Ten reasons to TEFL in 2014

With 2014 now in full swing, people all over the world will be making promises to drink less alcohol, eat less junk food, stop smoking and exercise more. All this is done in the hope of becoming happier, healthier and more productive. But how about committing yourself to something that will be truly life-changing?

Taking a TEFL course could make this year the most memorable of your life. Here are ten reasons why you should TEFL in 2014:

1. Travel.

Ever heard the expression "'It's a small world"? Well it's just not true. With the arrival of South Sudan in 2011, there are now 196 recognised countries in the world, with a combined population of more than 7 billion. There's nothing small about planet earth, it's absolutely huge. Take some time to see it while you can. 

2. Experience a different way of life.

Getting a TEFL job means settling down in one place, at least for a short while. This means you can see the country through the eyes of a local, not a tourist. So go native and dive in head first by trying everything your new culture has to offer. Be it different food, drink, music, film, fashion, sports...everyday brings a fresh adventure which will broaden your horizons.

3. Make new friends.

Immersing yourself in a new way of life involves making every effort to interact with local people, no matter how big the language barrier. Do this and you could find yourself developing lifelong friendships that transcend cultures and continents. Wherever you end up in the world, you also will be surprised by how many other teachers you find there. Meet like-minded individuals from America, Canada, Australia, South Africa and many more English speaking countries. 

4. Gain confidence.

The idea of moving to a new country, or even standing up in front of a class, might fill you with dread. Once you have done it you will wonder why you spent all that time worrying. Living abroad will make you a more confident and independent person, while teaching will give you transferable skills you can use later in your career.  

5. Learn a new language.
Communicating in another language is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It can be tricky but the chance to practice on genuine native speakers makes your task a lot less difficult. Being able to speak the local lingo will also help you as you go about your day-to-day business. There's only so far that pointing and miming will get you!

6. Enjoy sunnier climes.

It's a special kind of person who likes British weather. It's renowned for being cold, dark, wet and windy and 2014 promises to be no different. Why put yourself through it when you could get a TEFL certificate and be sunning yourself on a boiling-hot beach within a matter of weeks?

7. Get a job!

It's not just the weather that's making people miserable in Britain. An uncertain economy and crowded job market have left many graduates feeling despondent as they fight it out for a limited number of vacancies. There are so many TEFL jobs available, you wouldn't believe it. There are more than 100,000 English teachers in China alone and they are still crying out for more candidates. Demand far outstrips supply as far as TEFL jobs are concerned.

8. Save money.

TEFL positions in some countries can be particularly lucrative. South Korea is a great example of this. A hefty wage packet coupled with the low cost of living mean that you can clear your debts and come back with some to spare!

9. Do something worthwhile.

Your reason for teaching doesn't have to be financially motivated. You can use your TEFL certificate to volunteer in a developing country and make a real difference. Teaching is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and giving up your time for those who need it the most makes it that much more enjoyable.

10. Why not?

Think long and hard about what's holding you back and you will soon find the answer...absolutely nothing. Take a look at our course dates and book yourself on today. All courses are Buy One Get One Half Price if booked before the end of January, so take advantage of this wonderful offer and make 2014 an unforgettable year! The New Year starts here!